Product Description

Players enter the volatile currency market. They begin with a small holding and use it through successive auctions to build a valuable currency portfolio. Each round they bid to exchange a portion of their holdings for new holdings offered on the market or by other players.

There are people who love games by Reiner Kniza because they are complex mind busting creations such as Modern Art. Or they love the complex nature of Tigris and Euphrates. As a serious gamer I must admit I love these, but there is a place for a game which mixes luck, player interaction and just plain fun. This game, like many by this author, involves bidding and collecting. There is an element of bluff as well as timing and close player interactions.

Like his Lost Cities card game, if you simply play a few games you'll dismiss it as a 'simple diversion'. (This is what Bridge was once called by Whist experts) This game is truly a fine product. Its Spiel de Jahres and Games 100 awards are well earned.

If you ever liked any Knizia's card game, this is a good bet. Employing alittle blind bidding with a two tiered set collection mechanic, Money is an intriging game delivered via clear rules and an aesthetically pleasing package. I used to think this game was too long because of how drawn out it was with my regular group. But after playing it with a different group, I see it is just a matter of not overthinking it. With the element of bluff here, this game does rely on a bit of luck.

And if you have never checked out a Knizia card game due to the negative press they get, I would say this is a good place to hop on. With games like this, Schotten Totten, Scarab Lords, and Too Many Cooks, Knizia, clearly, has a strong handle on what it takes to deliver a simple but compelling card game.

This game's cards, representing seven currencies and gold coins, have fine visual appeal. Each currency speculator is dealt cards, and two groups of four faceup cards are dealt before bidding starts. Players secretly bid with cards from their hands, and values determine the order of play (with serial numbers cleverly breaking ties). A turn consists of exchanging your bid cards for either group, or for the bid of a player who has not completed his turn. Holding sets of cards in one currency when the deck is depleted greatly increases your score, and having all nine virtually guarantees victory. Let me be franc: If you're of a mind to acquire pounds of rubles, or have a yen for kronor, spend your dollars on this game.

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